Left ear hearing loss
-
- 6 valves
- Posts: 2102
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 1:03 am
- Location: montgomery/gulf shores, Alabama
- Contact:
Left ear hearing loss
Anyone else? I guess all those years of playing loud whole and half notes with the bell rim near my left ear are taking a toll. Tinnitus and moderate hearing loss,primary in left ear. I wonder if it's primarily right ear in England? New forum: the aging tubist . Happy birthday to me. 48 tomorrow.
Pensacola Symphony
Troy University-adjunct tuba instructor
Yamaha yfb621 with 16’’ bell,with blokepiece symphony
Eastman 6/4 with blokepiece symphony/profundo
Troy University-adjunct tuba instructor
Yamaha yfb621 with 16’’ bell,with blokepiece symphony
Eastman 6/4 with blokepiece symphony/profundo
- Dan Schultz
- TubaTinker
- Posts: 10424
- Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2004 10:46 pm
- Location: Newburgh, Indiana
- Contact:
Re: Left ear hearing loss
Yup. But I cannot imagine it's from playing tuba. Mine is severe tinnitus probably caused by prolonged and intense exposure to radio signals while in The Navy, loud music, and firearms reports while not wearing hearing protection... and doing other stupid stuff while I was young and invincible. The damage was done years ago but is aggravated by sitting in front of the percussion section. Children's voices, piccolos, and drunken females laughing loudly are also a problem.
Dan Schultz
"The Village Tinker"
http://www.thevillagetinker.com" target="_blank
Current 'stable'... Rudolf Meinl 5/4, Marzan (by Willson) euph, King 2341, Alphorn, and other strange stuff.
"The Village Tinker"
http://www.thevillagetinker.com" target="_blank
Current 'stable'... Rudolf Meinl 5/4, Marzan (by Willson) euph, King 2341, Alphorn, and other strange stuff.
- swillafew
- 5 valves
- Posts: 1030
- Joined: Sun Nov 22, 2009 6:20 pm
- Location: Aurora, IL
Re: Left ear hearing loss
I keep Hearos in my wallet. In a wind ensemble I sit close enough to a snare drum that I shrug my shoulders and bump the person's music stand. Hearos come out for the warm up period. Today I can hear normally instead of the temporary hearing loss.sitting in front of the percussion section
MORE AIR
Re: Left ear hearing loss
What?bloke wrote:bass trombone, typically, is on the right side...
...just sayin'.
-
- Deletedaccounts
- Posts: 1567
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 1:07 am
Re: Left ear hearing loss
We don't realize it, but we're slowly deafening ourselves during practice. It's a fair amount of dB over a pretty long period every day, and it adds up. Earplugs (even the fancy ones) are a crappy solution, but they beat going deaf. That said, I only use 'em during certain ensemble rehearsals.
-
- bugler
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2011 3:41 pm
Re: Left ear hearing loss
UncleBeer nailed it. I know we don't spend all of our time at full volume. But a healthy mezzoforte with the dB meter at my left ear showed 100dB. That's not great for your ears.
- DonShirer
- 4 valves
- Posts: 571
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 9:08 am
- Location: Westbrook, CT
Re: Left ear hearing loss
Left ear deaf, but not from Tuba. Probably from infection called valley fever while living in Arizona.
Don Shirer
Westbrook, CT
Westbrook, CT
-
- bugler
- Posts: 230
- Joined: Tue May 05, 2009 6:31 pm
- Location: I'd prefer a trout stream
Re: Left ear hearing loss
I think this is more common than most players realize. I half remember that at the first Tuba Euphonium Conference back in 1973 this topic came up. There was also a discussion about some players having issues with their left eye getting lazy and not functioning since it was stuck behind the bell. There are other physical accommodations that occur due to our hobby/profession. Just compare your thumbs for a quick verification. While on right handed people it is typically larger, it tends to be more pronounced on tubists. I presume it is from holding the horn.
ScottM
ScottM
-
- 5 valves
- Posts: 1395
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 12:46 am
- Location: Berkeley, CA
Re: Left ear hearing loss
Happy birthday, Mike. My 81st is later this month. My left ear has been bad for a long time, ever since I was near an explosive charge in Army basic training. The ear rang for weeks after that. Then, in further military service in Army bands I always marched in front of the percussion unit---two bass drums, two cymbals players, and six field drums. Year after year of that took its toll. The VA is compensating me and I get free hearing aids. -AceMikeMason wrote:Anyone else? I guess all those years of playing loud whole and half notes with the bell rim near my left ear are taking a toll. Tinnitus and moderate hearing loss,primary in left ear. I wonder if it's primarily right ear in England? New forum: the aging tubist . Happy birthday to me. 48 tomorrow.
-
- 3 valves
- Posts: 303
- Joined: Sat Dec 01, 2012 1:51 pm
- Location: Rochester NY
Re: Left ear hearing loss
I have left ear hearing loss as well but it's mostly my high frequencies that are compromised. I've always played lower pitched instruments myself, but for years as a bass guitarist I've been in fairly close proximity to drumsets particularly cymbals on a small stage in a big band setting. Also in concert band in the Army reserves I sat just to the left and slightly in front of the trumpets. Although my own playing and practice has had some effect on my hearing, I think most of the damage to my hearing has come from players near me. I remember very vividly one rehearsal where an inattentive trumpet player blasted a high note so loudly in my left ear that it caused me physical pain. In my younger days no one wore hearing protection, and there wasn't any emphasis paid to preserving hearing. It wasn't until I was ready to retire from the reserves that they actually came around and measure the Db level in the band setting at various spots in the band that we were all told to wear hearing protection during rehearsals.
Retired Army Reserve 98th Div. Band: Euphonium, Trombone, Tuba, Bass Guitar
Miraphone 186 CC
Conn 36K Sousaphone
Euphonium: Yamaha YEP-321 (modified with Euro-shank receiver with Lehman M mouthpiece)
Trombones:Yamaha 612 Bass, Conn 88H
Miraphone 186 CC
Conn 36K Sousaphone
Euphonium: Yamaha YEP-321 (modified with Euro-shank receiver with Lehman M mouthpiece)
Trombones:Yamaha 612 Bass, Conn 88H
-
- 4 valves
- Posts: 843
- Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:10 am
- Location: Tewksbury, NJ
Re: Left ear hearing loss
Maybe he means stage right.Mark wrote:What?bloke wrote:bass trombone, typically, is on the right side...
...just sayin'.
Hup
Do you really need Facebook?
-
- 3 valves
- Posts: 466
- Joined: Thu Sep 10, 2009 9:57 pm
Re: Left ear hearing loss
I'm not sure there's an actual difference in hearing loss, but my left ear definitely builds wax faster than the right.
I've had to have it removed medically from the left ear a number of times when home remedies didn't work.
The doctor said, "It'll heal, but.....it'll never be right."
Bah-dum-pah.
I've had to have it removed medically from the left ear a number of times when home remedies didn't work.
The doctor said, "It'll heal, but.....it'll never be right."
Bah-dum-pah.
- MaryAnn
- Occasionally Visiting Pipsqueak
- Posts: 3217
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 9:58 am
Re: Left ear hearing loss
I've used custom-fit Westones for at least 20 years. My hearing is still diminishing but I hear better than most people I know my age, and I attribute that to the ear plugs, plus lack of standing in front of speakers at rock concerts in my youth. I don't wear them in all situations, but do find it necessary in concert bands and any time I'm in front of percussion. The OTC ear plugs may work, but the foam ones obliterate too much for me, and ones like the ETY hurt like hell.
- windshieldbug
- Once got the "hand" as a cue
- Posts: 11512
- Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2005 4:41 pm
- Location: 8vb
Re: Left ear hearing loss
hup_d_dup wrote:Maybe he means stage right.Mark wrote:What?bloke wrote:bass trombone, typically, is on the right side...
...just sayin'.
Hup
The chainsaw was on MY right in every orchestra I ever played with...
(but often the yanks on the cord to fire it up would give me plenty of time to adjust my earplugs)
Instead of talking to your plants, if you yelled at them would they still grow, but only to be troubled and insecure?
Re: Left ear hearing loss
What?MaryAnn wrote:I know my age, and I attribute that to the ear plugs
- twoconnguy
- bugler
- Posts: 64
- Joined: Fri Aug 20, 2004 3:25 pm
- Location: St. Louis Park, MN
Re: Left ear hearing loss
I attribute my left ear hearing loss to open car windows when driving.
Silver 25J, Bell Up & Front
Silver 38K Sousa
186-4R Mirafone, Bell Up & Front
M & W 19, Detatchable Bell
First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band
http://www.sousaband.net" target="_blank
Plymouth Concert Band
http://www.plymouthconcertband.org" target="_blank
Silver 38K Sousa
186-4R Mirafone, Bell Up & Front
M & W 19, Detatchable Bell
First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band
http://www.sousaband.net" target="_blank
Plymouth Concert Band
http://www.plymouthconcertband.org" target="_blank
-
- bugler
- Posts: 143
- Joined: Sun Oct 23, 2011 6:08 pm
- Location: Florida
Re: Left ear hearing loss
I've never had noise issues from tuba, or music in general, except for this one time when I had to play Nutcracker in a pit. The cymbals were less than a foot to my left. After the first show I couldn't hear for a few days out that ear. Also, when I was younger I didn't use earplugs when out hunting. However, that one gig with the symbol crashes was much more painful than touching off a big magnum rifle from inside a box stand. That should say something about how loud classical music can get. . .
I'm religious about wearing ear protection now. I'm often around loud machines such as feller bunchers, tree shredders, chainsaws, dozers, etc. When I shoot I always wear earplugs, even when hunting. I've got earplugs stashed all over the place just in case I forget my good pairs- I even have a set attached to my hardhat.
Despite these precautions, I worry about hearing loss from bone conduction. I'm not sure if it's a real problem, but you never know. . . I have no tinnitus, but I often find myself saying "what?" or "excuse me?" in conversation with people. I've probably got a little hearing loss, but it's not bad.
I'm religious about wearing ear protection now. I'm often around loud machines such as feller bunchers, tree shredders, chainsaws, dozers, etc. When I shoot I always wear earplugs, even when hunting. I've got earplugs stashed all over the place just in case I forget my good pairs- I even have a set attached to my hardhat.
Despite these precautions, I worry about hearing loss from bone conduction. I'm not sure if it's a real problem, but you never know. . . I have no tinnitus, but I often find myself saying "what?" or "excuse me?" in conversation with people. I've probably got a little hearing loss, but it's not bad.
MW 45k
Alexander 163CC 5v
Conn 72h, 1G
King 2280
Used to own: MW20 BBb(super old model) 1915 Conn Grand Orchestral BBb, small valve MW 2145
Used to borrow: Miraphone 190 CC, from IAA
Alexander 163CC 5v
Conn 72h, 1G
King 2280
Used to own: MW20 BBb(super old model) 1915 Conn Grand Orchestral BBb, small valve MW 2145
Used to borrow: Miraphone 190 CC, from IAA
- tbonesullivan
- 4 valves
- Posts: 531
- Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2016 12:30 pm
- Location: New Jersey
Re: Left ear hearing loss
Most long term hearing loss is in the higher frequencies, not the lower ones that the tuba is known for producing. Sure there are overtones and timbre, but generally it's things like loud percussive sounds with a lot of highs. So yes, sitting in front of percussion will kill your ears, as will playing percussion without hearing protection. Also, age-related hearing loss mostly affects the higher frequencies.
Violin players very often have left ear hearing loss, due to prolonged high frequencies at loud volumes. The violin tends to get louder the higher up it goes in the register, so the volume a foot away from the instrument is actually very loud when playing up there.
I keep procrastinating, but I really do need to get a set of professionally molded ear plugs with various filters. Even an attenuation of 5 or 10db can be the difference between loud and TOO loud.
Violin players very often have left ear hearing loss, due to prolonged high frequencies at loud volumes. The violin tends to get louder the higher up it goes in the register, so the volume a foot away from the instrument is actually very loud when playing up there.
I keep procrastinating, but I really do need to get a set of professionally molded ear plugs with various filters. Even an attenuation of 5 or 10db can be the difference between loud and TOO loud.
Yamaha YBB-631S BBb Tuba, B&H Imperial Eb Tuba, Sterling / Perantucci 1065GHS Euphonium
Yamaha YBL-621 RII Bass Trombone and a bunch of other trombones
Yamaha YBL-621 RII Bass Trombone and a bunch of other trombones
-
- bugler
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2013 6:54 pm
Re: Left ear hearing loss
I just went to an audiologist last week about a lingering tinnitus in both ears. He said that he has fitted hearing aids for nearly all the retired local band directors. Chronic noise exposure. He explained that the reason that the high range is hit first is that the vibrations enter the cochlea right where the high-frequency cilia/nerves are located. According to him, all frequencies of sound pass over this spot and that it's not the frequency that does the damage, but the intensity. Said his wife--who plays violin in some local groups--has similar loss. He recommended either the Etys or the Westones with about 10 db of protection. I guess I'm just going to practice with them in to get used to the sensation and selective frequency loss that I perceive with the plugs....
-
- bugler
- Posts: 108
- Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2017 12:03 am
Re: Left ear hearing loss
Euphonium player - right ear loss - right in the middle.